Design of integrated life support systems for Mars space station

The Brief


Your consulting company has been hired by the Mars Exploration Consortium, represented by Drs. Sarkisov and Valluri. The objective of the consortium is to build a space station on Mars, capable of a continuous support of a 10 member crew.

It has been planned that a re-supply mission should return to Mars every 18 months, with the main resources re-supplied being water, oxygen and food. With the current cost of the re-supplement estimated at £1 M/kg, there is a clear need for intensive onsite recycling of the resources, including water, air and waste. Your company has been hired to develop an integrated recycling solution, with an objective to minimize the weight of the re-supplement cargo.

Other technologies that should be explored along with the recycling, include collection and purification of water on Mars and local production of food stock (high protein vegetables etc).

The primary source of energy for the Martial station will be provided by a nuclear reactor with up to 50 MWe capacity.

Design Project Course Information Booklet